On this 11-day Aleutian Islands cruise, experience a different side of Alaska. Kayak, hike and skiff past millennia-old glaciers. Puffins, eagles, otters and sea lions wait around every cove.

Experience Prince William Sound, Kenai and Katmai National Park, Kodiak Island and a selection of Aleutian Islands. Explore volcanic fields and a petrified forest. Beachcomb rocky shorelines and hike beneath a glacier. Navigate along the least-visited shores in coastal Alaska. Search for wildlife including whales, orcas, eagles, puffins, sea otters, seals and sea lions. Kayak, paddleboard and skiff in hidden coves and narrow fjords. And take in vistas few other Alaska visitors will experience.

One vessel operates this 11-day itinerary, the 36-guest Safari Explorer, which provides a luxury and intimate experience voyaging into the tiniest nooks that other small vessels can’t reach. Built on a unique reputation for adventure, this boat pampers her guests with a three-to-one guest/crew ratio, fresh and healthy meals, experienced expedition leaders/naturalists who know Alaskan culture and topography, high-end expedition gear, plus a wide variety of excursions to suit any activity level. The Safari Explorer is a perfect basecamp for luxury Alaska cruises due to her unique amenities and ideal size.

Read on for details about this Aleutian Islands cruise (plus Kodiak, Katmai and Kenai wilderness), or view all of AdventureSmith’s Alaska trips and small ship Alaska cruises.

Main Aleutian Islands Adventure with Dutch Harbor & Kodiak Itinerary

Anchorage, AlaskaUnalaska, Dutch Harbor

Cruise from Seward to Unalaska, with regular stops along the way to explore Kodiak, Katmai National Park & Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park.

route map of aleutain islands adventure including dutch harbor aboard uncruise small ship

Welcome to Alaska! Today you’ll embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. You will fly into Anchorage and then make your way to Seward, a town full of rich history that acts as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Sit back, relax and enjoy your first delicious meal on board while familiarizing yourself with your home for the next 11 days.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Dinner

Welcome to the mesmerizing glacial wonderland of Kenai Fjords National Park. Established in 1980, this park safeguards Alaska’s glacial wilderness. Covering over 600,000 acres, it boasts stunning scenery, abundant wildlife and magnificent tidewater glaciers. The park’s 936-square-mile Harding Icefield feeds these glaciers, creating awe-inspiring fjords where land and sea intertwine.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

Embark on a wild and untamed journey to Kodiak Island and the breathtaking beauty of rugged landscapes and pristine waters. Paddle through calm bays on kayaking excursions, keeping an eye out for playful sea otters and majestic eagles soaring above. Each day presents new activities for water ops and wildlife watching for nature’s pure magic. Your guides will bring you to see the volcanic islands of the Aleutian chain an intricate part of the Inside Passage. It’s here that an essential habitat of marine mammals and some 40 million seabirds call home.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

A landscape is alive underneath your feet, filled with creatures that remind you what it is to be wild. Katmai was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Novarupta and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, the ship visits the southeast side of Katmai National Park and Preserve which features 9,000 years of human history and important habitat for salmon and thousands of brown bears.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

Alaska Peninsula Refuge presents a breathtakingly dramatic landscape made up of active volcanoes, towering mountain peaks, rolling tundra and rugged, wave-battered coastlines. When the salmon are running, Ugashik Lakes and streams attract brown bears in great numbers.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

No lines, no waiting! Given its remote location and challenging weather conditions, Aniakchak is one of the most wild and least-visited places in the National Park System. This landscape is a vibrant reminder of Alaska’s location in the volcanically active Ring of Fire, as it is home to a massive six-mile-wide, 2,500-foot-deep volcanic crater formed during a massive eruption 3,500 years ago.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

Looking at the petrified logs and stumps along the shores of Unga Island, and understanding that they are remnants of a sequoia or metasequoia forest buried as a result of volcanic activity millions of years ago, is a moment only your ship operator can bring you. The petrified forest tells the story of the passage of species between Asia and America, and helps portray the climate and environment of the Aleutian Arc before humans inhabited Alaska. The waters off the Shumagin Islands are known also for catching sights of whales, so keep a lookout along the horizon.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

Depending on weather and wildlife, your expedition team selects the day’s activities to ensure the maximum adventure possible. Options may include paddling or skiffing alongside volcanic islands, or exploring remote coves alive with seabirds, sea lions, and other wildlife.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

Today’s adventure will be a fiery one. Welcome to Akutan Island–home of the active Mount Akutan volcano. The volcano erupted most recently in 1992. The recent volcanic activity makes Akutan Island an amazing destination for ecotourism. Hiking on the island offers a diverse landscape where wildflowers and berries abound on hills and mountains.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

Today, you’ll explore the town of Unalaska. You’ll dock in Dutch Harbor, the final stop of your trip. But the adventure doesn’t end here. Take in the sights of the Church of the Holy Ascension–a national landmark and the oldest church building in Alaska. Hike and explore Dutch Harbor, best known for being the home harbor of Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

One last breakfast with new friends before you begin to head back to Anchorage. After breakfast, transfer to the Dutch Harbor airport to catch your independently arranged flight.

ACCOMMODATIONS n/a
MEALS Breakfast

Included

Accommodations aboard vessel; onboard meals; premium wine, beer and liquor (excludes super-premium wines), non-alcoholic beverages; transfers and baggage handling between airport/vessel on embarkation/disembarkation day; entry fees to national parks/preserves; all from-the-vessel activities and equipment; exclusive activities and shore visits; wellness amenities; presentations by onboard expedition/heritage guides and guest experts; taxes and port fees.

Exclusions

Airfare to and from your home city; discretionary gratuities to vessel’s crew; travel insurance and insurance of any kind; optional excursions and land tours; excess baggage charges; items of a personal nature.

Payment & Cancellation

For bookings made on or after October 1, 2025
In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 20% of total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 120 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
121 days or more – 50% of deposit
120 to 91 days – 50% of total trip cost
90 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

For bookings made up to September 30, 2025
In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 20% of total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
91 days or more – 100% of deposit (transferable to a Future Travel Certificate)
90 to 61 days – 67% of total trip cost
60 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The main Aleutian Islands cruise begins in Anchorage, Alaska (ANC), and ends in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor (DUT). Plan flights to arrive to Anchorage by 1:00pm on Day 1 of the itinerary. Plan flights to depart Dutch Harbor no earlier than 11:00am on the final day.

Activities

Whether you are looking for light activity options or more challenging outdoor pursuits, the ship’s crew can tailor most any expedition to suit your skill level. Adventure activities may include whale watching, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, inflatable boat/skiff excursions, morning yoga and stretching, land treks, glacier viewing, wildlife observation and polar bear plunges. Limited quantities of hiking poles, binoculars, mud boots and rain gear are available on board. To ensure availability and fit, we encourage you to bring your own gear.

Room Configuration

Select double-occupancy cabins may be available for single occupancy at 150-175% of the per-person listed rate; special triple-occupancy rates may also be available in select cabins. Call AdventureSmith for more details, as availability and rates vary by ship and cabin category.

Families & Children

Kids 8 years and older are welcomed aboard all departure dates; exceptions for children 7 years and under may be allowed with special pre-approval. Save $500 per child, ages 8 to 17, with the exception of holiday departures.

Travel Insurance

Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. For best value and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, consider purchasing a policy at time of booking. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, national park regulation or at the captain’s discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.

Reverse Aleutian Islands Adventure with Dutch Harbor & Kodiak Itinerary

Unalaska, Dutch HarborAnchorage, Alaska

Cruise from Unalaska to Seward, with regular stops along the way to explore Kodiak, Katmai National Park & Preserve, and Kenai Fjords National Park.

route map of aleutain islands adventure including dutch harbor aboard uncruise small ship

Arrive in Unalaska, Dutch Harbor and transfer to the ship. Meet your crew and familiarize yourself with your home for the next 10 days. Adventure, here we come.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Dinner

Today, you’ll explore the town of Unalaska. Take in the sights of the Church of the Holy Ascension–a national landmark and the oldest church building in Alaska. Hike and explore Dutch Harbor, best known for being the home harbor of Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch. Museum of the Aleutians and the WWII National Historic area in Dutch Harbor offer a peek into how instrumental this area was to the history of the world.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

Today’s adventure will be a fiery one. Welcome to Akutan Island–home of the active Mount Akutan volcano. The volcano erupted most recently in 1992. The recent volcanic activity makes Akutan Island an amazing destination for ecotourism. Hiking on the island offers a diverse landscape where wildflowers and berries abound on hills and mountains.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

Depending on weather and wildlife, your expedition team selects the day’s activities to ensure the maximum adventure possible. Options may include paddling or skiffing alongside volcanic islands, or exploring remote coves alive with seabirds, sea lions, and other wildlife.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

Looking at the petrified logs and stumps along the shores of Unga Island, and understanding that they are remnants of a sequoia or metasequoia forest buried as a result of volcanic activity millions of years ago, is a moment only your ship operator can bring you. The petrified forest tells the story of the passage of species between Asia and America, and helps portray the climate and environment of the Aleutian Arc before humans inhabited Alaska. The waters off the Shumagin Islands are known also for catching sights of whales, so keep a lookout along the horizon.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

No lines, no waiting! Given its remote location and challenging weather conditions, Aniakchak is one of the most wild and least-visited places in the National Park System. This landscape is a vibrant reminder of Alaska’s location in the volcanically active Ring of Fire, as it is home to a massive six-mile-wide, 2,500-foot-deep volcanic crater formed during a massive eruption 3,500 years ago.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

Alaska Peninsula Refuge presents a breathtakingly dramatic landscape made up of active volcanoes, towering mountain peaks, rolling tundra and rugged, wave-battered coastlines. When the salmon are running, Ugashik Lakes and streams attract brown bears in great numbers.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

A landscape is alive underneath your feet, filled with creatures that remind you what it is to be wild. Katmai was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Novarupta and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, the ship visits the southeast side of Katmai National Park and Preserve which features 9,000 years of human history and important habitat for salmon and thousands of brown bears.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

Embark on a wild and untamed journey to Kodiak Island and the breathtaking beauty of rugged landscapes and pristine waters. Paddle through calm bays on kayaking excursions, keeping an eye out for playful sea otters and majestic eagles soaring above. Each day presents new activities for water ops and wildlife watching for nature’s pure magic. Your guides will bring you to see the volcanic islands of the Aleutian chain an intricate part of the Inside Passage. It’s here that an essential habitat of marine mammals and some 40 million seabirds call home.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

Welcome to the mesmerizing glacial wonderland of Kenai Fjords National Park. Established in 1980, this park safeguards Alaska’s glacial wilderness. Covering over 600,000 acres, it boasts stunning scenery, abundant wildlife and magnificent tidewater glaciers. The park’s 936-square-mile Harding Icefield feeds these glaciers, creating awe-inspiring fjords where land and sea intertwine.

ACCOMMODATIONS Safari Explorer
MEALS Breakfast

One last breakfast with new friends before you begin to head back to Anchorage via a scenic motorcoach ride. Then transfer to the Anchorage airport.

ACCOMMODATIONS n/a
MEALS Breakfast

Included

Accommodations aboard vessel; onboard meals; premium wine, beer and liquor (excludes super-premium wines), non-alcoholic beverages; transfers and baggage handling between airport/vessel on embarkation/disembarkation day; entry fees to national parks/preserves; all from-the-vessel activities and equipment; exclusive activities and shore visits; wellness amenities; presentations by onboard expedition/heritage guides and guest experts; taxes and port fees.

Exclusions

Airfare to and from your home city; discretionary gratuities to vessel’s crew; travel insurance and insurance of any kind; optional excursions and land tours; excess baggage charges; items of a personal nature.

Payment & Cancellation

For bookings made on or after October 1, 2025
In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 20% of total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 120 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
121 days or more – 50% of deposit
120 to 91 days – 50% of total trip cost
90 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

For bookings made up to September 30, 2025
In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 20% of total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms may apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
91 days or more – 100% of deposit (transferable to a Future Travel Certificate)
90 to 61 days – 67% of total trip cost
60 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The reverse Aleutian Islands cruise begins in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor (DUT), and ends in Anchorage, Alaska (ANC). Arriving in Dutch Harbor the day before embarkation is strongly recommended due to weather concerns. Plan flights to arrive to Unalaska/Dutch Harbor by 1:30pm on Day 1 of the itinerary. Plan flights to depart Anchorage no earlier than 2:00pm on the final day.

Activities

Whether you are looking for light activity options or more challenging outdoor pursuits, the ship’s crew can tailor most any expedition to suit your skill level. Adventure activities may include whale watching, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, inflatable boat/skiff excursions, morning yoga and stretching, land treks, glacier viewing, wildlife observation and polar bear plunges. Limited quantities of hiking poles, binoculars, mud boots and rain gear are available on board. To ensure availability and fit, we encourage you to bring your own gear.

Room Configuration

Select double-occupancy cabins may be available for single occupancy at 150-175% of the per-person listed rate; special triple-occupancy rates may also be available in select cabins. Call AdventureSmith for more details, as availability and rates vary by ship and cabin category.

Families & Children

Kids 8 years and older are welcomed aboard all departure dates; exceptions for children 7 years and under may be allowed with special pre-approval. Save $500 per child, ages 8 to 17, with the exception of holiday departures.

Travel Insurance

Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. For best value and coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, consider purchasing a policy at time of booking. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, national park regulation or at the captain’s discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.

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This adventurous motor yacht embodies an ambiance of refinement and relaxation. The Safari Explorer cruises the Hawaiian Islands, Alaska's Inside Passage. and the Gulf of Alaska.

Mid-Sized Cruiser 36 GUESTS 145 FEET

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